Decompression illness (DCI) is a diving injury that is associated with a reduction in the ambient pressure that surrounds the body. It includes two cases, decompression sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism (AGE). so what is the relationship between the two cases of decompression illness and diving? To get the answer, Read the next lines.
The Risk Factors of Decompression Illness
decompression sickness (DCS) is considered local damage caused by the bubbles that enter the body tissues, while arterial gas embolism (AGE) occurs when the bubbles enter arterial circulation and travel through the arteries until they cause blooking the blood flow to small vessels resulting in tissue damage.
risk factors of decompression illness for divers include:
- Reduction in ambient pressur as the main risk factor.
- Deep and long dives.
- Diving in cold water heavy exercise at depth.
- Rapid ascent.
rapid ascents is an important rule of diving that contributes significantly to the risk of AGE. other risks that may increase DCI but without conclusion evidence include:
- obesity.
- dehydration.
- pulmonary disease.
- immediate exercise after surfacing.
We still aren’t sure about the possible individual risk factors. Maybe two divers follow the same dive profile but one of them gets DCI more frequently.
Any dive profile can cause DCI. no matter its safety. Evaluation of one for decompression illness is a clone on a case-by-case basis on making a diagnosis the doctor must consider the diver’s symptoms and dive profile.
Decompression Sickness
Decompression sickness has other names like the blends or caisson disease. It results from exposure to low pressure after exposure to high pressure. It is different in symptoms in every case, as it may be mild or serious injury occurs. when the patient takes a proper treatment, he will get a better chance for a full recovery.
We can summarize what happening in this case in the following points:
- While diving, the body tissues absorb inert gases (nitrogen in most cases) from the scuba tank according to the surrounding pressure.
- The more the diver stays under this increased pressure and dives deeper the more nitrogen is dissolved and saturate body tissues.
- As long as the diver remains at this pressure, the dissolved gas isn’t a problem.
- If the rate of assent of the diver is high, that means the pressure is reduced too quickly. Then the nitrogen separates from the solution and forms bubbles that interface with the body tissues and bloodstream.
- Unfortunately, bubbles may occur even if the diver followed the rules of safe diving.
If bubbles form in or near joints, This will result in joint pain (the blends). the high levels of bubbles can make complex reactions in your body. The usually affected organs are the spinal cord and the brain, resulting in the symptoms of numbness, impaired coordination, and paralysis.
If there are a lot of bubbles in the venous bloodstream, the patient will suffer congestive symptoms in lung then circulatory shock can occur.
symptoms of decompression sickness include:
- Skin itching.
- Dizziness.
- Vertigo.
- Unusual fatigue.
- Joint pain.
- Tinnitus.
- Amnesia.
- Difficult in urination.
- Paralysis.
- Tremors.
- Unconsciousness.
- Bloody cough.
- Confusion.
- Personality change.
The symptoms appear from 15 minutes to 12 hours after surfacing. In severe cases, the symptoms may appear immediately. If the diver has an air travel after diving, the symptoms may appear later.
These symptoms may appear due to another cause like heavy lifting overexertion or even Weaning light wetsuit. Sometimes the symptoms remain mild and then go away quickly, but they may increase in severity until it becomes clear that there is something wrong and someone here needs help.
Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE)
If the diver ascends quickly without exhaling, the trapped air bubbles expand in the lung and may lead to rupture of the lung tissues. This case is called pulmonary barotrauma which involves releasing gas bubbles into the arterial circulation, then circulation distributes them to all body tissues.
The brain receives the highest proportion of blood flow, as a result, the bubbles interrupt brain circulation in large numbers. This circulation interruption is called AGE and is considered a serious form of DCI, as AGI can occur even if the rate of ascending was completely normal.
Pulmonary disease is considered a risk of AGE. If the diver loses consciousness within 10 minutes of surfacing, It is a medical emergency case that requires moving the patient to the nearest treatment facility.
Symptoms of AGE:
- Blurred vision.
- Chest pain.
- Paralysis.
- Convulsion.
- Decreased sensation in some areas.
- Dizziness.
- Mouth or nose bloody froth.
- Respiratory failure.
- Death.
Decompression illness FAQs
How to prevent decompression sickness?
To prevent a recurrence, follow these tips:
- Use dive tables in addition to the dive computer.
- Don’t dive until you feel well.
- Make sure to drink plenty of water before and after diving.
- Always check your diving gear and service them regularly.
- After diving, no need to strenuous exercise or heavy alcohol consumption.
- Leave two hours at least as a surface period between consecutive dives.
Is decompression sickness fatal?
Death is rare but can occur, as in severe cases, the symptoms include chest pain, cough and shortness of breath because of pulmonary edema. The massive bubble embolization in the pulmonary vascular tree can cause rapid circulatory collapse and death.
What is decompression sickness treatment?
You can treat decompression sickness with 100% oxygen then the patient undergoes recompression in a hyperbaric chamber.
What are decompression sickness types?
Type 1: it is the mild one that primarily affects the skin, joints and lymphatic vessels.
Type 2: This case is life-threatening as it affects the vital organs including the respiratory system, the brain, the circulatory system and the spinal cord.
How deep do you have to dive to get decompression sickness?
About 20 feet.
who can suffer decompression illness?
Decompression illness affects not only scuba divers but also astronauts, aviators, and compressed airworkers.
